1456 



CLASS MAMMALIA. 



and separated from one another by a space, the five succeeding 

 teeth small and conical, the last premolar and the two first true 

 molars broad and cusped, while the last tooth is very small ; and 

 there is a vacuity on either side of the hinder part of the palate. 

 The existing E. europceus has been found fossil in the Pleistocene ; 

 a small species occurs in the Upper Miocene of CEningen, in Switzer- 



Fig. 1339. — Left lateral view of the skull of the Hedgehog {Erinaceus enroficeus). 



land, and others are found in the Middle Miocene of France. In 

 the Lower Miocene of the same country occurs the genus Palceoeri- 

 naceus, distinguished from Erinaceus by the absence of vacuities in 

 the palate, and the greater relative width of the latter. An appar- 

 ently allied form from the French Miocene has been described by 

 Gervais under the name of Erinaceus arvernensis, which is, how- 

 ever, not the same as E. arverne?isis of De Blainville. From the 

 Quercy Phosphorites there have been obtained remains of other 

 members of this family more nearly allied to the existing Gymnura 

 of Madagascar, but presenting characters which also link them very 

 closely with Erinaceus through Palczoerinaceus. These Quercy 

 forms have been referred to three genera under the names of 

 Neurogymnurus, Cayluxotherium, and Comphotherium, but it ap- 

 pears probable that the second is a synonym of the first. The 



teeth of Neurogymnurus and 

 Cayluxotherium are like those 

 of Gymnura, but the palate 

 has vacuities as in Erinac- 

 eus ; Comphotherium is dis- 

 tinguished by a cingulum to 

 the lower true molars, which 

 also occurs in Gymnura. 

 JVeurogymnurus has also 

 been recorded from the Upper Eocene of Hampshire. 



Family Microchoerid^s. — The genus Mic7-ochcerus (fig. 1340), 

 from the Upper Eocene of Hordwell, with which Heterohyus, of 

 the corresponding beds of France, may be identical, agrees with 

 Erinaceus in showing an interval between the first upper incisors of 

 either side, and may be provisionally placed in this order. It has 



Fig._ 1340. — Palatal view of the right upper cheek- 

 dentition of Microchcerus erinaceus ; from the Upper 

 Eocene of Hordwell. 



